Thursday, June 30, 2011

A PV preview for Itano Tomomi's 2nd single, Fui Ni, has been released.

This PV seems to have a higher budget than Dear J did. Dear J was pretty much just a dance PV. Which I guess worked because it was a dance song. The Fui Ni PV on the other hand seems to have an actual storyline.The whole storyline of this PV seems to be that Tomomi is some sort of socialite. She's dressed high end while being driven around, and they make point of flashes her diamond earings. And besides that she's shoving her Juicy Couture bag in our face. I'm only 80% sure it's a Juicy bag. It has the charm that they're known for, and it looks like the charm is their label. You have no idea how much it's eating me up that I'm not 100% sure what bag that is. XDBesides that socilaite aspect of the PV, the PV is filled with a lot of fanservice. Tomomi's laying in a bed with her cleavage emphasized, suggestivly eating a strawberry, and with wet hair that eludes to her have taken a shower.

The PV looks pretty mediocre to me. I'm actually only looking forward to it for the fashion aspect.

The PV preview for Buono's upcoming 12th single, Natsu Dakara, has just been released. Actually a full radio rip of the song has been released too, but I can't find it on youtube. So, I've yet to hear the full song. Mostly because I don't like donwloading things.

Coming after their last single, Zassou no Uta, which had some pretty rockish songs and awesome PVs this single is a little more tame. Both the song and the PV. Buono hasn't released as song this clam since Take It Easy. Which was my least favorite Buono A-side to date. However, this song is a bit more upbeat than Take It Easy. Thank god. It actually has a more co.no.mi.chi feel. Where the song wasn't 100% rock, but it wasn't too soft. Natsu Dakara has a much lighter and softer feel than co.no.mi.chi though, but it's similar to it in that sense. And also because of that I'm not that thrilled with the song. It's not bad, but Buono has definitely done better.

While on the other side, I am completely in love with the PV. Because the PV is shot outside/by an open door, the girls are shot in this beautiful soft, natural lighting. Making them look absolutely gorgeous. And making the PV almost like one giant beauty shot. Other than the girls looking stunning, the PV itself is pretty simple. So far there doesn't seem to be any dance shots. So the whole PV preivew is filled with the girls close-ups, standing in front of a door, and sitting on a couch. Which doesn't really make for the most exciting PV ever. But my girls look amazing, and that's really all I can ask for from an H!P, or pretty much any PV in general. If the PV was nothing but them fighting giant octopi, but they looked flawless doing it, I won't really mind.

After releasing their first PV preview just yesterday, the full PV for NMB48's debut single, Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo has been released.

I know I complained a lot about this PV yesterday. Well, I tend to complain a lot in generally. I'm very critical, and full of opinions, when it comes to idol music. Hence why this blog exists in the first place. But anyway, in my post about the PV preview my only really fault about it was that it wasn't Japanese enough. Well, who ever directed this PV must be a dedicated reader of this blog, because the actual PV is everything I hoped it would be! The PV is bursting with Japanese references. Okay maybe bursting is an exaggeration, but there are quite a few. The opening of the PV starts off with one of the girls walking in front of a rice paper screen and shamisen music is playing. From then on out I knew the PV was going to have more Japanese elements. And I was pretty excited about it. However, most of the references are in the second half of the PV. Which isn't actually that big of a deal. It would have nice to have them more spread out through the entire PV. But that's a tiny flaw. The Japanese elements throughout are calligraphy, traditionally drinking tea, karate, using a katana, focusing on the girl's kanzashi, wearing kimonos, and even falling cherry blossom petals.I loved this PV from start to finish. I like how it wasn't an average PV with just close-up shots and dance scenes because it could have been. SKE48's and SDN48's debut PVs were basically just that. I love that it had a clear storyline, and stuck with it. Even if it was relatively simple, and nothing more than a few random shots edited together. People might brush this PV off as being too gimmicky, or a tad underwhelming. But I actually don't think it's either of those. There was a perfect balance of the standard PV formula and sticking to a theme. Besides, this is idol music there's a certain cheese factor in pretty much every release. I actually still would have liked to have seen a little more from the dance. But that's a tiny flaw as well.

To me this embodies Japan. It has that standard Japanese art feel to it.

Cheap effect but still pretty cool.

This effect is awesome too. It takes so little to impress me. XD

This dance move is a litte awkward, and would honestly only work for Passpo.

This girl is cute. Too bad I don't know any NMB48 members name. Expect for Nana of course.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A PV preview for AKB48's sister group NMB48's debut single, Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo, was just released. It's yet another obnoxiously long PV preview that ruins the surprise. This one clocks in at nearly 2 minutes. Which is a little less then 2/3 of the PV.

Ever since I heard the radio rip I have been in love with this song. So, I was expeting a lot from this PV. However, those expectations weren't really met. Nearly the entire PV so far is nothing but the girls surronded by rice paper doors. The dance scene is filmed in front of one, the close-up shots are filmed in front of one, and a member is even shooting an arrow surrounded by 8 or so of them. I'm also pretty dissapointed with the dance itself. Not because, it's anawful dance or anything. The dance is find, it's pretty much a standard idol dance. But when the song was first announced they said the dance was supposed to incorporate Kabuki elements. Now maybe I'm just not familiar enough with Kabuki, but I didn't notice anything that remotely looked like Kabuki.The second half of the PV preview is significantly better than the firs thalf. It shows the girls wearing kimonos, which is always adorable. And we are also treated to a new dance scene. Where the girls are wearing pretty skimpy outfits dancing in front of a Japanes style painting. Which is a nice touch.Overall I'm a little dissapointed by the PV. Since it's a song about being proud of your black hair, and being Japanse (I assume) I really wish they would have added more Japanese customs/traditions they should b proud of. Like kendo, origami, ikebana,a tea ceremony, etc. I really would have liked them to take the Japanese theme and just go all out with it. At the end of the PV they seem tobe doing calligraphy so maybe, just maybe, we'll see more Japanese elements in the full version.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The official SKE48 youtube channel uploaded a short version of the PV to their upcoming 6th single, Pareo wa Emerald. The PV preview is 1 minute and 38 seconds, so we get to see about 1/3 of the PV. I actually hate when PV previews are this long. Maybe I'm alone on this, but I actually think anything more than 30 seconds ruins the surprise of the PV.

Since this single is being released in the summer and a pareo is a wraparound skirt that's usually worn over a bathing suit. I think it was pretty obvious that this PV was going to feature SKE48 wearing bikinis. Most of the girls are wearing bikini tops and pareos, but some of the girls are wearing pareo tops and shorts. And since Matsui Jurina is one of them, I'm guessing it's because only the young girls are being covered up. Which makes no sense because at the end of the preview it shows the members in full bikinis jumping in the ocean. It even seems like Jurina might also be wearing a full bikini too. Selective censorship for the win, I guess? XD

The PV is a little different than I expected it. I thought it was going to be very similar to Ponytail to Shushu, where the whole PV was basically dancing on the beach and close-ups. But I'm glad that this PV has more to offer than just dancing on the beach. To keep up with the 48 groups school girl theme, the rest of the PV is either filmed in a school or doing school activites. Such as watching male classmates play basketball and being part of the rowing team. However, since they are all running out of the school in the beginning, I think this is supposed to be what they are doing with their summer break. Which actually adds even more the the summer theme.

I absolutely adore the song and the PV seems really cute and summery. So, I'm happy all around.

A completely unexpected and shocking scandal is rocking the idol world. Hey! Say! JUMP's youngest member, 16 year old Morimoto Ryutaro, has been caught underage smoking. And because of this scandal Ryutaro will cease all of his activities in the entertainment field indefinitely. He will also be edited out of the cover of Hey! Say! JUMP's new single, Over, and will not participate in the Summary concerts.

Here are the larger pictures of him smoking:

Is anyone else having really bad Kago Ai flashbacks? All Ryutaro needs to do is date a 40 year old woman, and he's as good as history. All joking aside, this is a completely serious issue. Not only is underage smoking illegal it's also taken very seriously in Japan. It's easy for fans living in the West to dismiss this scandal as not a big deal at all. When underage celebrities in America are caught doing a lot worse, nothing happens to them. Back in the day Lindsay Lohan drank underage, Taylor Momsen flashed her underage boobs, and Miley Cyrus was caught smoking "salvia." Among many other underage scandals that I'm sure exist, but don't know of off the top of my head. But for some reason in the US they got a slap on the wrist, and people didn't seem to really care. However, just because America seems to be more lenient about these things, doesn't mean Japan should or will be. We're talking about idols here. Idols who get kicked out of their group for being caught with a boyfriend. (Well, that only happens to female idols. I won't get into how unfair and sexist that is.)

People should legit be worried that Ryutaro might never return to Hey! Say! JUMP again. I am sure everyone is familiar with the big NEWS scandals of 2005 and 2006. First NEWS and Kanjani8 member Uchi Hiroki was suspended indefinitely for underage drinking. Then in 2006 NEWS member Kusano Hironori was caught for the same thing. Which of course lead NEWS to go on a year long hiatus. And we can all see how that turned out for them. They never returned to their groups. And are pretty much in obscurity. It took Uchi 3 years before his comeback solo concert. And since then all he's been up to is random appearances on Shounen Club, is part of the Johnny's New Year's Countdown, and he was in a drama. And that's it. In the 3 years since his scandal he's basically done nothing. He's only done the little bit he has done because he was a fairly popular member. But what about Kusano? Kusano, who to this day I am convinced is completely innocent. If you look at the pictures it does not look like beer. In Kusano's parting words he said something along the lines of even though I am compeltely innocent I will dissapear from the public anyway. It was completely sad. And what is Kusano up to? Nothing! He studied dance in New York for a year and was a model for some random brand. But his pictures are still blurred in tabloid papers. All because Kusano wasn't that popular. Uchi, who was drunk in public and was a public nuisance, got to make his comeback. But Kusano, who is seemingly innocent and even claims to be innocent, has done virtually nothing. And to be honest, none of that makes sense to me. The only logical reason for it has to be because Uchi is more popular and can make more money then Kusano can.

And if Kusano isn't doing anything after his scandal because of popularity, where does that leave Ryutaro? Ryutaro is obviously one of the least popular Hey! Say! JUMP members. He's on the bottom tier alongside Inoo Kei and Okamoto Keito.

Fans could also argue that Ryutaro will be fine because smoking isn't as a big a deal as drinking is. Which seems a little weird to me. I don't really think you can judge the 2 in that way. Underage is underage. Whether it's drinking or smoking. That's just my opinion though. Obviously JE thinks it's a huge deal. It's such a big deal that he is being treated to the same punishment that Uchi and Kusano were put under for a quote unquote less severe scandal. Also, note that Ryutaro was put on an indefinite suspension. Indefinite! Which means this suspension can last for however long Johnny's sees fit. 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, or never if he feels like it! Don't just assume that everything will be ok for Ryutaro because you feel it should be. Or that you feel it's not a big enough scandal to warrent an indefinite suspension. The bottom line is Johnny's makes the decisions. He decides what's fair and what's unfair. What's a scandal and what isn't. And the other bottom line is, Ryutaro broke the law. Which in turn makes the entire agency he works for look bad. I've said this before, I will bet you a million dollars that all idols, yes ALL idols male and female, have to sign a morals clause. And if they break that at any time the agency has every right to fire them, or punish them however they see fit.On the other hand, maybe fans are right and smoking scandals aren't that big of a deal. And Ryutaro will eventually return to Hey! Say! JUMP. So, let's look at the only other idol smoking scandal I know of, Aibon's. In 2006 Hello!Project member, and member of idol group W, Kago Ai was caught smoking underage. In a very grainy and unclear tabloid picture I might add. Aibon was immediately suspended for one year and W's next single was put on hold. She then was later fired after being caught in another scandal. When Aibon eventually made her comeback she talked to teenagers and encouraged them to not smoke underage. She said that one foolish and careless act ruined her life. In responce the people she talked to said how they were shocked and disgusted by her scandal. They couldn't believe she would do something like that. Not only because she seemed to be a good girl, but because she was a role model. However, Kago Ai was extremely popular, and therefore lucrative for H!P. I firmly believe she was only given such a small hiatus because of her popularity. And we all know that if a member of H!P is popular enough their scandals get swept under the rug or are more lenient. Nothing came of Tanaka Reina's, Kamei Eri's, or Natsuyaki Miyabi's boyfriend scandals. But less popular members like Arihara Kanna and Murakami Megumi were given the boot. Or excuse me, they left to "continue their studies." And even popular members Yaguchi Mari and Fujimoto Miki were forced to resign as leader of Morning Musume after their boyfriend scandals. H!P scandals also come down to popularity, and their position within the group. Obvious a leader in a scandal was setting a horrible example for the rest of the group.

All Morimoto's future really comes down to is luck and popularity. Ryutaro obviously doesn't have popularity on his side. So, fans just have to hope that Johnny realizes that smoking underage isn't really that big of a deal. I mean, apparently Johnny knew Ryutaro was smoking from time to time. I think that will play a big role in how long he is under suspension.

But for me personally, I actually don't care that much about this scandal. Yes, it is sad that he's under suspension and he may never come back. And that HSJ might never be 10 members again. Or that fans are left hanging about his fate like they were with Uchi and Kusano. All of that is incredibly sad. But Ryutaro isn't really my favorite member. And as selfish as it sounds, I'm just happy it's not a member I actually care about. That and the fact that I don't really feel any sympathy for him. It was his fault. He was the one that not only broke the law, but was stupid enought to let people take pictures of it. The one picture he was legit caught off guard. But the picture where he's wearing the black shirt, he's trying too hard to look cool, and it looks almost like he's modeling for the person who's taking the picture. If Ryutaro can't do the time, he shouldn't have done the crime.

Monday, June 27, 2011

KAT-TUN announced that they will be releasing their 16th single. The single is titled Run For You and will be released on August 3rd.

I'm trying to be excited for this single, and I am in a sense. I was just pretty dissapointed with their last single. White was a good song and all, but nothing will ever convince me that White worked better as an A-side than Perfect would have. I just think management made a terrible mistake with that. I'm also hoping that this single will be more intense than White was. I mean Change UR World and Ultimate Wheels had pretty heavy and intense music. They completely had that original KAT-TUN feel that we hadn't seen in a while. And honestly that's what I would love KAT-TUN to sound like from now on. To me that type of music marked the new Jinless KAT-TUN. However, with Kisumai debuting they'll probably take over that sound since they already have been making songs like that.

It was just announced that Berryz Koubou will be releasing their 27th single. The single is entitled Aa, Yoru ga Akeru and will be released on August 10th. Which is just 2 months and 2 days after the release of Ai no Dangan. And this also makes Berryz the 3rd idol group to be releasing a single on August 10th. The other 2 being Kis-My-Ft2 and DiVA.

I'm really hoping that this single turns out to be good. Lately, every other single they release is awesome while the other single isn't that great. Maji Bomber was great, Shining Power not so much. Heroine ni Narou ka was amazing, Ai no Dangan could have been better. I just hope they don't release two duds in a row.Also, I don't understand why Berryz is releasing another single so soon after their last one. Usually Berryz releases a new single every 3 or 4 months. Two months later just seems excessive.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

After waiting for what seems like an eternity, the full PV for Hey! Say! JUMP's new single, Over, has finally been released. With only 3 days until the single is released! That's some brilliant marketing right there. XD

Over the past 2 weeks we've been pretty much bombarded with PV previews, 3 in total. So, it felt like we saw a good chunk of the PV. And it turns out that we actually did see most of it, because there's really not much going on in the PV. The PV is 6 minutes long, you'd think that they would do something exciting with the extra minute and a half. However, the entire time before the song starts is spent on the phone. I mean, I know the whole song is like a phone conversation, but the talking in the beginning was actually a little boring. What I did understand of it was, apparently Rysouke was dumped and the members are trying to cheer him up. Which actually fits perfectly with the song. But I honestly could have done with out. It's just like when AKB48 adds like 4 minutes to their PVs to add talking and a storyline. IBut I find it completely boring and I usually just skip it. XDOff subject, but I understood like 90% of what they were saying, so yay for me. I understood pretty much everything except for Hikaru, the last thing Daiki said, and the last bit of what Ryutaro and Yabu said. No one cares though, so, I digress.The rest of the PV are dance scenese and then their close up shots. Over the past few weeks I've gotten over the ugly dance set, and it doesn't really botther me so much anymore. It's not spectacular, but it could have been much worse. The close-ups are what I have a problem with. The whole PV is filmed in a school. Mostly the hallways and common area. Didn't we just have a JE PV insanely similar to this one? Or are we supposed to forget that KAT-TUN's White PV exists? And then the rest of the close-ups/group shots are in slow motion with random objects flying around. Which is what they did in their last PV for Arigatout ~Sekai no Doko ni Itemo. But in this PV they did do it a lot more and in a more artistic way to make the PV more interesting. But it is still completely redundant. You would think with all this scrutiny and harsh criticism that I hate the PV, but I don't really. But I don't love it either. It's somewhere more in the middle for me. The guys look super cute, they are wearing normal clothes instead of ridiculous costumes, and the overall look is 100 times better than their last PV. Yuto. Especailly since he looked super adorable. Much like any PV, there's obvious pros and cons. This PV is probably at about a 6 for me. And is probably their 2nd best PV. However, this PV needed more

Ryosuke looks gorgeous, as usual.

Has anyone else noticed that Daiki has been getting extra attention lately? He's the 2nd main focus in this PV after Ryosuke.

Hikaru's hair is pretty unfortunate in this PV.

Ashita wa ashita no kaze yo fuke~ Yuto's adorable and said the most adorable line of encouragement.

The face Ryosuke has to make to show that he's being cheered up is so stupid and obviously fake.

Hot. Ryosuke looks innocent and sexy at the same time.

Can I just point out how hilarious it is that Ryosuke is wearing a hair clip? Johnny's: making your favorite idols act effeminate since the 1960's. XD

Yesh, head on this isn't really a good hairstyle.

I still don't understand the random obelisks. But whatever.

Yabu looks hot, but Keito is all derp in the background. Lolz.

I really need to stop making caps of just Ryosuke. But he looks so good in this PV.

Yuto, why so serious apathetic?

I love how Daiki is the only member to not make the same exact expression during this random epileptic montage.

Just incredible. *O* No other member is trying half as hard as Ryosuke is too look hot. I kinda wish they were.

Takaki actually looks pretty cute with this hair.

There's just no words.

Rabbit face.

How adorable.

I don't really like that my favorite are shoved to the back.

Random floating objects, where have I seen that before?

Oh yeah that's right, the Arigatou PV.

Cute.

I love how Inoo is trying to look cool here. It's not really working for him though. XD

Hot.

Adorable! This post has become so Ryosuke biased, but I don't even care. H'es shown the most and looks the best. What do you want from me?

Of course it ends with a random Ryosuke butt shot. I mean, can you think of another way to end it? But seriously lolz.